3 hurt, 2 arrested in gang brawl at CherryVale Mall

CHERRY VALLEY — Two people were taken to the hospital after an early-morning brawl between alleged gang members during Black Friday shopping at CherryVale Mall.

Kevin Haas

CHERRY VALLEY — Two people were taken to the hospital after an early-morning brawl between alleged gang members during Black Friday shopping at CherryVale Mall.

Police were called for a fight at the mall at 2:30 a.m., but it had broken up by the time officers arrived on scene, said Paul Seitz, a Cherry Valley police officer. Officers responded to a second call around 4:30 a.m. and arrived to find two men injured inside the food court. One had a laceration on the back of his head where he was reportedly struck by a chair, Seitz said. A second man had head and face injuries. Both were transported to OSF Saint Anthony Hospital.

Seitz said the fight was gang related.

Arrested at the scene were Damien A. Galvanoni, 19, of Machesney Park who was charged with aggravated battery, mob action and resisting a police officer, and Jerardo Perez, 19, of Rockford, who was charged with aggravated battery and mob action.

According to a news release from the Cherry Valley Police Department, an officer sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.